Chapter 9 The return gift was two baskets of green vegetables. "Let's divide them up."

"It's better than silver wire charcoal! It burns longer and produces no smoke." Grandmother Jia laughed, "If you smell it up close, you can even smell the fragrance. The best red charcoal is scented with ambergris."

"I've never seen anything like this before." Tan Chun pulled Ying Chun along and leaned in to smell the charcoal.

Yingchun was an honest person. Not only did she smell it, but she also reached out and rubbed it, exclaiming in surprise, "There isn't a trace of black ash!"

Tan Chun felt a little embarrassed and laughed, "I won't invite Sister Lin. Anyway, it's her stuff, she can smell it herself later."

Tan Chun spoke playfully, and Lin Daiyu laughed, saying, "I'll share some with you so you can use it to fumigate your house when you get back."

Having just suffered a setback, Xue Baochai couldn't resist trying to salvage the situation. She preemptively said to Tan Chun, "Two baskets of charcoal will only last another seven or eight days, so why not divide them—"

Grandmother Jia interrupted her: "Red charcoal baskets refer to the fact that the baskets for holding the charcoal are red. However, the wood used for burning the charcoal is also of better quality than usual. Did you see the yellow label on it?"

No one in the room was as curious as Jia Baoyu. He put the letter in his hand on the side table and went over to look at it. He removed the yellow silk cloth covering it: "There are words written on it. Tian Zi Jia Yi."

Regardless of whether one is knowledgeable or not, anyone with a brain knows what the "Tianzi Jia Yi" in the palace represents.

"It's charcoal from the Daming Palace." Grandmother Jia's heart pounded, but she suppressed her emotions for the time being and smiled at Aunt Xue.

"You should know, right? Items that are of high quality are marked with red tags. Once they pass the Imperial Household Department's inspection, they are marked with yellow tags and become imperial items. Ordinary people can't distinguish between high-quality and imperial items. Some items in the Xue family shop can be marked with red tags. Have your Aunt Xue and Sister Bao explain it to you properly so you don't make a fool of yourself."

Aunt Xue's expression changed slightly. Was this really not a sarcastic remark?

Xue Baochai remained as perfect as ever: "Our matriarch has made it very clear, and I think the younger sisters should have no doubts."

"This charcoal burns well." Grandmother Jia waved her hand and said to Yuanyang, "Two or three pieces can burn all night. Go and tell them not to waste such good stuff."

Grandmother Jia gestured for the guests to leave, but Jia Baoyu was the first to stand up and said with a smile, "I've never seen such a fine thing before. I'll go see how long it can burn."

Madam Wang's temple throbbed, and she instinctively said, "You mustn't stay in your sister's room all night."

Although the last few words were not spoken, who in this room could not understand them?

Madam Wang realized she had spoken out of turn, and chuckled twice: "If you start burning now, you'll know how to withstand the heat by tonight. It's cold at night, so go back to your room early and don't make the old lady worry."

Seeing that Lady Wang was about to speak, Grandmother Jia sternly told her to leave: "The days are already short. You all stay here all the time. Aren't you going to prepare the New Year's gifts? Not to mention the Rongguo Mansion, even the Xue family in the capital should have at least two relatives, right? Relatives should visit each other often, otherwise they will become estranged. Or if you feel that you have a good relationship with a certain relative, you can't just associate with that one relative."

Even though Aunt Xue usually made Grandmother Jia laugh, she couldn't stand being ridiculed twice in a row.

Fortunately, Xue Baochai was mentally strong. She stepped forward and took her arm, saying with a smile, "That's right. I'll go back and help write the invitations." After saying that, she said to Shi Xiangyun, "If Xiangyun is free these days, why don't you go and keep Daiyu company? I'm not in Hengwu Garden during the day."

As the group walked out, Shi Xiangyun deliberately said, "It's a good opportunity to burn more of her good charcoal."

"Whether you come or not, I'll still burn [charcoal]." Lin Daiyu's expression was neither cold nor warm, and she didn't care much about it: "Besides, you're hot, so if you come, I can use you as charcoal."

Before anyone else could react, Jia Baoyu, who loved having his sisters and cousins ​​together, laughed and said, "Let's all go, it'll be a lively occasion."

"Isn't Sister Bao coming?" Lin Daiyu glanced at Xue Baochai and smiled, "What a pity."

"No, thank you." Xue Baochai sighed. "Every year at this time, the family is always busy."

"Yes," Lin Daiyu sighed, "Sister Bao is always suddenly busy. The Xue family suddenly has so many relatives, and we never see Sister Bao visiting them. Let me think—"

She stretched out her fingers, which were as white as jade: "Today is only the eighth day of the tenth month, and Sister Bao has to write invitations for more than two months. Tsk tsk."

Xue Baochai smiled but said nothing. After taking only a few steps, she grabbed Lin Daiyu's arm and pulled her aside. Lin Daiyu was already weak and caught off guard, so she was pulled to the side.

“If you receive something good, you should also give it to the old lady and the ladies. Don’t be so greedy as to take it all for yourself.” Xue Baochai said earnestly, “Besides, you said you don’t remember this person having any past connection with the Lin family. He’s probably just doing this because of the Rongguo Mansion. He shouldn’t accept something for nothing.”

Lin Ruhai's resume is publicly available, and he is also the son-in-law of the Jia family. It is easy to find out by asking two older servants. Although there is not much information about the Marquis Zhongyong, he is about 27 or 28 years old, comes from a farming background, and went to the border 11 or 12 years ago. This is something that can be found out.

Xue Baochai concluded that the two families had no prior connection.

Moreover, Lin Daiyu has lived in the Jia family for ten years. The old lady has kept her well hidden, and none of her old friends have ever come to see her. She is an orphan, and the Marquis of Zhongyong must not have come for her.

"Sister Bao knows so much about things I don't even know. It's such a waste of her talents to spend all her time with us."

Lin Daiyu glanced at people sideways, her voice not loud, but with a hint of coldness.

Just as Xue Baochai was about to speak, Yuanyang caught up from behind and said, "Miss Lin, the old lady said we should write a letter to express our gratitude."

Lin Daiyu turned her head, her expression returning to normal: "Should we send some return gifts?"

At this time, returning gifts is a very particular affair; what kind of gift it is and what its symbolism is must be carefully considered. Yuanyang consulted Lin Daiyu's opinion: "The old lady said that fresh vegetables are scarce these days, so let's pick three or five kinds and send them over in two baskets."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "I'll go back and write a letter now."

Since Yuanyang had accompanied her the whole way, Xue Baochai didn't say anything more.

When Jia Zheng was sent to a post outside the capital, Jia Baoyu was left to his own devices. He didn't even go to the outer study for two years, let alone study or write.

He followed Lin Daiyu all the way back, and said with a smile, "Quickly burn two pieces of good charcoal so I can smell them."

Once the charcoal was lit, the temperature in the room rose in no time. Jia Baoyu said, "It's really hot." He then went to the outer room to get a cup of cool tea.

Lin Daiyu, still upset, glanced at him and said, "I think it's fine, just right."

It wasn't even the beginning of winter yet. Although it was cool in the mornings and evenings, most people hadn't started burning charcoal yet. Even the elderly Grandmother Jia had only just put on her padded jacket.

Jia Baoyu felt sorry for Lin Daiyu's frail health, but he was also worried that she would get upset and upset, which would harm her health.

“If you ask me, Sister Bao’s idea is great. Share some with everyone. Such good charcoal has no smoke at all; everyone will love burning it. I’ll encourage everyone to ask Grandma to find some for us too, so you can burn it every day. You always cough in winter, which might be because the charcoal is too pungent. Using good charcoal might help.”

Lin Daiyu felt both angry and amused, touched and helpless.

She's not a stingy person at all.

Did she say she wouldn't share? When Tan Chun was joking, she said she'd share some with her to scent the house; she had originally planned to share it all.

But after Xue Baochai said that, even Baoyu thought she was being petty.

Besides, where did that carbon come from?

How did my maternal grandmother manage to get charcoal from the Emperor Emeritus?

Even the imperial concubines in the palace couldn't get enough charcoal of the highest grade.

She couldn't help but recall the last time she told Baoyu about the Rongguo Mansion's lack of support, and how Baoyu responded back then.

...Anyway, we have the old lady; if anyone is missing, it won't affect the two of us...

She sighed that Baoyu was referring to "us," and unconsciously put herself in his shoes.

Baoyu genuinely cared for her, but...

Lin Daiyu nudged him: "Don't wander around for a bit, I still need to write a reply."

"I'll grind the ink for you," Jia Baoyu said with a smile. "I can also give you some advice."

Jia Baoyu was indeed excellent at these miscellaneous studies. Lin Daiyu nodded and pointed, "You sit in that chair and don't make a sound."

Jia Baoyu exaggeratedly covered his mouth, which amused Lin Daiyu.

In the warm inner room, Grandmother Jia held a cup of ginseng tea in her hands, sipping it slowly, her thoughts entirely on the Earl of Zhongyong.

What exactly does "Loyal and Brave Earl" mean?

Does this indicate he has connections in the palace? Is he favored by the emperor? Is this an implication about the Rongguo Mansion? Or a threat to the Rongguo Mansion?

He can't possibly be thinking of finding a wife in the Jia family!

Wait a minute, it seems like that might actually be true.

Grandmother Jia sat up straight, put her teacup aside, and began to analyze the situation carefully.

At the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, it was an urgent matter for the Earl of Zhongyong to get married.

There used to be a Li family, but he recognized them as his godfathers, so naturally he could no longer marry into the Li family.

What about the Jia family?

Although Yingchun and Tanchun were illegitimate daughters, they were both sisters of the Imperial Concubine, making them more than suitable matches for the Earl of Zhongyong.

Xichun is the legitimate daughter, a little young, but she has already reached marriageable age, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

However, since she is from the East Mansion, if she is to marry, Tan Chun, who is decisive and capable, should be considered first. Even Ying Chun, who is the oldest, is not the first choice.

What about Daiyu?

Grandmother Jia breathed a sigh of relief. She had originally intended to pair the two Yu'er's together, but things had changed a bit.

It wasn't because the Lin family had all died out, nor because Yuan-chun was made a concubine and Bao-yu became the emperor's brother-in-law, nor because the Lin family's vast fortune was almost gone, nor because Dai-yu was in poor health.

It was because Daiyu was her own granddaughter, the only bloodline left by Min'er, and she wanted Daiyu to have a better life.

The second wife doesn't like Daiyu. If she were to marry into the family, she would likely be mistreated by her mother-in-law.

Moreover, she comes from a scholarly family. If she were to marry into a high-ranking family, wouldn't she be more comfortable than staying in the Rongguo Mansion?

Although Baoyu is the emperor's brother-in-law, he has not yet figured out how to advance in his career or economics. He may continue to live a muddled life for a few more years. Wouldn't that be a waste of Daiyu's time?

With her and Baoyu, one married outside the family and the other took another wife, the Jia family flourished and prospered, allowing it to continue to thrive.

Grandmother Jia breathed a long sigh of relief. Yes, Daiyu's marriage to another man and Baoyu's marriage to another man cost more money than if they had married together. How could this not prove that she truly cared for Daiyu?

But what exactly was the Earl of Zhongyong thinking?

If not for this, why would he come to the Rongguo Mansion to seek connections?

However... the title of Marquis Zhongyong was only for one generation. The previous generation was still farming, so their social status was low and their wealth was not very substantial.

If... Daiyu could enter the prince's household and become a concubine, that wouldn't be bad.

When she dies, she can rest in peace and meet Min'er, and face Lin Ruhai, who entrusted Daiyu to her, with equanimity.

You see, she was supposed to marry Baoyu, but she found Daiyu a man from a higher social class.

Although they spent the afternoon at Grandmother Jia's place, everyone arrived again when it was time for dinner.

Lin Daiyu first asked Xue Baochai, "Why is Sister Bao here again? Have you finished writing the invitation?"

Xue Baochai smiled dignifiedly: "Pin'er's mouth is truly irresistible. I came here specifically to thank you."

As she spoke, she looked around.

"It's just a few pieces of charcoal, yet they specially had someone deliver it, and arranged it so elegantly. No wonder she comes from a scholarly family and is the daughter of a third-ranked scholar."

Hearing her mention her deceased father, Lin Daiyu's mood suddenly plummeted.

She always does this, finding every excuse to teach people, just to make herself appear dignified, poised, polite, and sensible.

Every time, he would give ambiguous answers, and when asked directly, he would say, "Don't take it personally, that's not what I meant."

And in less than two days, the servants will start spreading rumors again: "Miss Lin is stingy. If it weren't for Miss Bao persuading her, she wouldn't even give away a few pieces of charcoal."

"They eat and live in the Jia family's house, and they pay for everything they need. They even steal things from their own rooms."

It's so boring.

She could indeed leave Xue Baochai speechless, but what could she do?

Is this how things will continue, day after day?

Lin Daiyu put down her chopsticks: "I'm done eating."

"You've only eaten two bites?" Jia Baoyu urged, "Eat some more. It's cold in winter, have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up."

Madam Wang laughed and said, "Don't try to persuade her anymore. You know your sister only eats a proper meal every three to five days. Tell them to prepare more snacks—"

Lady Wang smiled and looked at Lin Daiyu again: "Have some snacks if you're hungry."

Grandmother Jia had seen everything. She put down her chopsticks and said in a deep voice, "Winter will begin in a couple of days. It will get cold. You should eat in the small kitchen in the Grand View Garden. Otherwise, you'll have to come here three times a day and catch a cold."

Jia Baoyu, who had been raised like a phoenix egg since childhood, chuckled and said to Lin Daiyu, "We live close by, so it won't be troublesome for them to bring us food. How about I eat in your room?"

A note from the author:

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